He studied at Cranfield University (BEng) and King's College London (MA).

[2] In 2001, as officer commanding 20 Field Squadron, he led the construction of two schools, a new hangar at Price Barracks and a jungle research station in Belize.

[3] He became Commanding Officer of 22 Engineer Regiment in 2004,[4] and was deployed to Iraq later that year.

[5] He went on to be Commander of 1st Mechanised Brigade in December 2008, Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in December 2010,[6] and Chief of Staff for Land Forces in October 2012.

[12][13] Urch was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours,[14] and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours.